Weekly News Summery

 Summery

        Azerbaijan

Political Front

• Azerbaijan's ruling party unveils election plans

 The Azerbaijani ruling party unveiled its parliamentary elections preliminary plans. "We will not support candidates of other parties in the parliamentary elections because they have not created a coalition.

• Jailed Azerbaijani Opposition Journalist Pardoned

BAKU -- An Azerbaijani opposition journalist jailed on what supporters say were politically motivated charges has been pardoned, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

Geo Strategic Front

·        NATO envoy for S. Caucasus to visit Azerbaijan next month

Special Representative of the NATO Secretary General for the South Caucasus Robert Simmons will visit Azerbaijan in April, Romanian ambassador to Azerbaijan Nikolae Ureki said.

·        Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan discuss perspectives of cooperation

Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov met with deputy foreign minister of Kazakhstan Nurlan Yermekbayev on March 12.

Economic /Energy Front

·        First oil from Chirag field to be achieved in 2013's fourth quarter

First oil from Chirag field is expected to be produced in 2013`s fourth quarter, Bp-Azerbaijan Company said.

·        Frederick Starr: Azerbaijan is a key potential supplier for alternative pipeline options

“BTC was the only achievement of US diplomacy in the region after the collapse of USSR”, Frederick Starr, Chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program, said.

Social Front

·        U.S. Helsinki Group Slams Baku Court's Refusal Of Bloggers' Appeal

Emin Milli (right) was sentenced in November to 2 1/2 years in prison and Adnan.

The U.S. Helsinki Commission has criticized a Baku court's rejection of appeals by two Azerbaijani bloggers against their prison sentences, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

      Kazakastan

Political Front

·        Kazakhstan creates new oil and gas ministry in a major government reshuffle

 (SRI) - In a government reorganization last Friday, Kazakhstan’s president Nursultan Nazarbayev created a new oil and gas ministry and reshuffled the cabinet.

Geo Strategic Front

·        Kazakhstan, Norway join forces in combating organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism

Astana. March 15. Interfax-Kazakhstan - Astana and Oslo are signing a number of cooperation agreements in various fields. According to the statement from the Foreign Ministry, the parties are currently finalizing agreements on readmission of citizens and visa-free entering for holders of diplomatic passports.

Economic /Energy Front

·        Oil and gas exports up in January

(SRI) - Kazakhstan exported 5.204 million tons of oil and gas condensate in January, up 16.7 percent compared to the same period last year, the State Statistical Agency reported. Export revenues in January amounted to $2.756 billion.

·        Air Astana posts record profit in 2009

 (SRI) - Kazakhstan’s flag carrier Air Astana reported a record profit of $47 million on revenues of $546 million for 2009, up 176 percent from 2008, according to the company’s unaudited financial statements.

Social Front

·        Kazakh Prison Warden Arrested For Extortion

KUSHMURUN, Kazakhstan -- The warden of a notorious Kazakh jail and one of his subordinates have been arrested on suspicion of extortion, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports. Police today said the two officers, whose names were not made public, were arrested on March 16.

·        Thousands Evacuated As Floods Hit Eastern Kazakhstan

OSKEMEN, Kazakhstan -- Over 2,000 people have been evacuated from several villages in eastern Kazakhstan due to severe flooding caused by melting snow, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

·        Kazakh Oil Company Director Fired Amid Massive Strike

ZHANAOZEN, Kazakhstan -- The director of the OzenMunaiGaz energy company was fired today amid a strike by thousands of oil workers in southwestern Kazakhstan, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

·        Kazakh Oil Company Leaders Meet With Striking Workers

ZHANAOZEN, Kazakhstan -- Regional government officials and KazMunaiGaz oil and gas company managers are holding talks today with striking oil workers in the southwestern town of Zhanaozen, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Kyrgyzstan

Political Front

·        Kyrgyz Opposition Party Leader's Car Searched

A Kyrgyz opposition leader says police searched his car today as he left a major opposition rally, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports. Omurbek Tekebaev, head of the Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party and a former parliamentary speaker, told RFE/RL he was leaving the opposition-organized People's Congress in Bishkek when his car was stopped by police officers.

·        Kyrgyzstan: The opposition meeting set its requirements

The kurultai (meeting) of the opposition forces, which took place on March 17 in Bishkek, was concluded by the document, outlining the requirements for the Kyrgyz government to be performed until March 24, 2010.

Geo Strategic Front

Economic /Energy Front

·        Kyrgyzstanis owes 231.5 million soms for natural gas

As of February 1, 2010 in Kyrgyzstan debts of population for consumed natural gas amount to 231.5 million soms, the press service “Kyrgyzgas” told the news agency 24.kg.

·        Kurmanbek Bakiyev and ADB representative talks over water and power energy issues

Director General of Asian Development Bank Central and Western Asia Department Juan Miranda and Kyrgyzstan’s President Kurmanbek Bakiyev discussed the issues of water and energy complex of the country at the meeting. The own sources of the news agency 24.kg said there was no discussion that ADB will render assistance to the country in conducting environmental assessment of construction of Kambar-Ata-1.

Social Front

·        RSF Warns Of Harassment Of Independent Media In Kyrgyzstan

The media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says it is "dismayed" at the "unprecedented wave of harassment" directed toward independent and opposition news media in Kyrgyzstan.

·        Kyrgyz Rights Activist Goes Missing

Ravshan Gapirov reportedly left his Osh home to attend an opposition-sponsored rally in the capital.

A well-known Kyrgyz rights activist has gone missing en route to an opposition-sponsored rally in the capital, Bishkek, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

·        Fashion Week-2010 in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)

Reportedly, the audience will see the National competition of cloth designers and accessories, brand-shows, photo and style competitions.

      Tajikistan

Political Front

·        Tajik President Rejects Criticism Of Parliamentary Elections

DUSHANBE -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has rejected criticism of last month's parliamentary elections, describing them as democratic and transparent, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

·        Spiritual Leader Of Tajikistan's Islamic Party Dies

The funeral ceremony for Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda in Dushanbe on March 17.

DUSHANBE -- The spiritual leader of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) has died at the age 59 after a long illness, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

·        First sitting of new Majlisi Namoyandagon takes place

DUSHANBE, March 16, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Under the RT Constitutional Law “On Elections to the Majlisi Oli,” the Session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) is convoked by the president during a month after its election. According to the Majlisi Namoyandagon press service, the first regular sitting of the first session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation is taking place in Dushanbe today.

Geo Strategic Front

·        Tajik, Turkmen Presidents Discuss Afghanistan, Water Resources

DUSHANBE -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has held talks in Dushanbe with visiting Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

Economic /Energy Front

·        ADB supports Tajik government’s energy policy

DUSHANBE, March 16, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- On Monday March 15, President Emomali Rahmon received visiting Director General of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Mr. Juan Miranda.

·        Japan gives US$1.5 million to WHO for improving healthcare on Tajik-Afghan border

DUSHANBE, March 13, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- A new US$1.5 million project to make 16 health facilities and the staff working in them better able to deal with humanitarian crises is being rolled out along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on March 12.

Social Front

·        Missing Kyrgyz Rights Activist In Detention In Tajikistan

DUSHANBE -- A Kyrgyz human rights activist who disappeared in Dushanbe last month is being held in a detention center for homeless people, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.

Muhammadsoleh Muhammadtohir told RFE/RL that his brother, Nematullo Botakoziev, is ill and needs medical treatment.

      Turkmenistan

Political Front

·        Turkmen parliament unanimously votes for new laws

The fifth session of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan of the forth convocation was held in Ashgabat. Several new laws and regulations were put on the agenda. Heads of relevant ministries and departments, representatives of the media were also invited to attend.

·        Minister of Education of Turkmenistan received reprimand

By the decree of the President of Turkmenistan, Minister of Education of the country Gulshat Mammedova has been reprimanded.

Geo Strategic Front

·        Tajik, Turkmen Presidents Discuss Afghanistan, Water Resources

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe on March 18.

·        Russia highly values relations with Turkmenistan, Russian Foreign Ministry says

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov is heading for Turkmenistan on a two-day working visit to discuss with the leadership of the country prospects for expanding economic relations and increasing trade. This was reported by ITAR-TASS with reference to the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko.

·        Caspian countries prepare to adopt agreement on maritime security

Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan agreed on the main issues of the draft Agreement on joint activities at the level of border and customs services and internal affairs bodies to ensure security in the Caspian Sea.

Economic /Energy Front

·        Interstate Coordination Water Commission to hold meeting in Ashgabat

The Interstate Coordination Water Commission (ICWC) will hold a meeting in Ashgabat. The commission consists of heads of water departments of Central Asian states - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Social Front

      Uzbekistan

Political Front

Geo Strategic Front

·        President Kazakhstan arrived in Uzbekistan for official visit

Almaty. March 17. Kazakhstan Today - The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, arrived for a two-day official visit in Uzbekistan, the agency reports citing official mass media.

·        Uzbek-Kazakh cooperation expanding

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev paid an official visit to Uzbekistan on 16-17 March.The official welcoming ceremony of the President of Kazakhstan was held at Kuksaroy residence on 17 March. The guard of honor was lined up in the honor of the high guest and state anthems of the two states were played. Islam Karimov and Nursultan Nazarbayev reviewed the guard of honor.

Economic /Energy Front

·        Fifth UzEnergyExpo exhibition opens

The fifth international exhibition UzEnergyExpo-2010 opened at Uzexpocenter in Tashkent. The forum has been organized by the Uzbekenergo company, State Nature Protection Committee, Commerce and Industry Chamber and the Energy and Automation Institute of the Sciences Academy.

Social Front

·        Uzbekistan – heart of Central Asia” exhibition opens

The fifth photo exhibition “Uzbekistan – heart of Central Asia. Culture and development” opened in Tashkent. The event has been organized by the Arts Academy in cooperation with Commerce and Industry Chamber, UN Office and the Economic Review magazine.